Physician&#39;s examining table



R. T. ADOLPHSON PHYSICIANS EXAMINING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 5, 1955Filgd July '7, 1953 2/ 1$ :40 FIG.2. 3; I I

. INVENTOR.

" OY 00 PH ON FIG.8. T A L s flfTfi/i/Vf) y 1955 R. T. ADOLPHSONPHYSICIANS EXAMINING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July '7, 1953 willFIG. 3.

INVENTOR.

RoY T ADOLPHSON Fatented July 5, 1955 riaysromns nxAMiNrNo TaniaAdolplisou, Wehstei Groves, Me assignor to Shnrnpnine ilsrnpany, St.Louis, him, a corporation of Missouri Appiication July 7, 1953, SerialNo. 366,425

3 Ciaims. (Ci. 311-7) This invention relates in general to certain newand useful improvements in leg-rests for physicians examining tables.

Most surgeons and medical diagnostlcians maintain a suite of ofiicescontain ng one or more patient exammmg rooms and furnish such rooms withinstrument cabinets and other utilitarian articles of furniture whichare useful and necessary in examining patients. Such examing rooms areusually small and the examining physician frequently finds himselfinconvenienced and crowded by reason of the fact that conventionalexamining tables are relatively large and cumbersome. Furthermore, inmany types of diagnostic and surgical examinations, such as, forexample, proctological and gynecological examlnations, it is necessaryto elevate the feet of the patient and make a diagnostic inspection ofthe lower portions of the patients abdomen. In making such examinationsusing conventional types of examining tables, the physician findsconsiderable difiiculty in approaching the patient closely for thereason that the conventional type of table does not allow adequatefoot-room and knee-room. in fact, when a physician is doing aproctoscopic examination, for example, and is accordingly seated on astool at the foot of the examining table, it is necessary for thephysician to spread his knees very widely apart in an extremelyuncomfortable position in order to be close enough to the patient forproper utilization of the necessary instruments and examiningprocedures.

Consequentl although the patient-supporting surface of the examiningtable must be relatively wide at the foot to provide support forstirrups and other necessary equipment which may be required forpositioning the patient preparatory to and during the examination, it isnevertheless desirable that the supporting structure upon which thetable top is mounted should, in the region of the foot, be relativelynarrow and arranged to provide a maximum amount of toe-room andknee-room for the examining physician. This latter requirement, however,is complicated by the fact that a physicians examining table ordinarilymust be provided with a type of disappearing leg-rest upon which thepatients legs may be horizontally supported in overhanging relation tothe foot-end of the examining table. The leg-rest should be strongenough to support the entire weight of the patient if for any reason thephysician may desire to have the patient use this structure as a seat,and should be capable of being shifted quickly and conveniently from itsoperative or leg-supporting position into an inoperative position inwhich it is completely out of the way so as to leave the foot-end of theexamining table entirely unobstructed.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a physiciansexamining table having a fully concealed legrest which can be shiftedfrom operative or leg-supporting position to an inoperative or concealedposition in which it is completely out of the way and leaves the footendof the examining table entirely unobstructed.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in thenovel features of form, construction, ar-

" with three vertically aligned drawers 2.

rangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets) Figure l is a perspective viewof a physicians examing table constructed in accordance with andembodying the present invention, showing the leg-rest in concealedposition;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the footend of thephysicians examining table showing the legrest in operative orleg-supporting position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the physiciansexamining table, partly broken away and in section;

Figures 4, 5, and 6 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines44, 5-5, and 6-6, respectively, of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7 of Figure 6,showing a portion of the leg-rest structure in the position which itwill assume when the leg-rest is in inoperative position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to Figure 7, showing aportion of the leg-rest structure in the position which it will assumewhen the leg'rest is in operative or leg-supporting position.

Referring now in more detail and by reference numerals to the drawingswhich illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Adesignates a physicians examining table comprising a rectilinear base 1having a hollow interior, and conventionally provided Joined to andextending outwardly from, the central portion of the base 1 is arelatively narrow rectilinear base extension 3 also having a hollowinterior and being conventionally provided along its outwardly presentedend wall or footend, with three vertically spaced drawers 4 and a legsupport or leg-rest 5. The base extension 3 is symmetrical with respectto the longitudinal center line of the examining table A, and thus, ineifect, presents a somewhat T-shaped horizontal cross-sectionalconfiguration.

Rigidly fastened to, and extending horizontally across the top of, thebase 1 and base-extension 3 is a rectilinear table top 6 integrallyprovided around its peripheral margins with a relatively wide dependingapron or flange 7. As will be noted by reference to Figure 1, the apron7 is substantially flush with the drawers 2- and leg-rest 5 when thelatter are in closed position, and, furthermore, the top 6 is of uniformwidth throughout its length so as to overhang the base-extension 3 onboth sides and thereby provide a relatively large recessed area, so thatthe examining physician can stand close to the edge of the table top 6and still have ample toe room directly therebeneath, or can easily andcomfortably straddle the foot-end of the base-extension 3 when makingexaminations requiring such proximity to the patient. Hingedly securedupon the upper face of the table top 6 and to each other, in a mannerconventionally employed in physi ians examining tables, are twosubstantially rectilinear upholstered top members 8, 9, which, whenfitted together in end to end relationship, have substantially the sameperipheral size and contour as the table top 6.

Although not forming a part of the present invention and, therefore, notshown or described herein, the present physicians examining table, incommon with all physicians examining tables, is provided with some typeof adjustment mechanism whereby the back-forming top member 9 can beswung upwardly into approximately vertical position in relation to theseat-forming top member 8 to form therewith a structure resembling achair, so that the patient may be seated therein while the physician isexamining the head and chest. Consequently, top member 8 is relativelyshort for serving alternatively as :slot 29, loosely embracing the rod21.

a chair seat and the top member 9 is relatively long for Valternatively'serving as a chair back when the examining table A is inso-called chair position. The present invention does, however, extend tothe unique provision of indented under-cut slots 8, 9', extendingtransversely along the forward and rearward edges, respectively, of thetop'members 8, 9, to provide for convenience in manually gripping andoperating these elements from any adjacent location.

The leg rest 5, consists of a rectangular panel 10,

' formed of wood, metal or any other suitable material and upholstered;on its external face and edges with'a layer of padding, 11, and acovering of leather-simulated plastic sheet, 12. It should be understoodin this connection, of course, that fabric or genuine leather may beused instead of the plastic sheet, 12, if so desired. The upholsteredpanel 10 is dimensioned and marginally shaped so as to conform to, andfit above the drawers 4, as a smooth, attractive appearing continuationthereof and in effect form therewith an attractively designed end wallfor the base extension 3. The upholstered panel 10 furthermore serves asa vertical closure for a rectangular aperture, 13, which opens into thehollow interior of the base.

The base extension 3 includes side walls 14, 14', rigidly mounted uponthe interior faces thereof, in horizontally aligned opposing relation,is a pair of horizontal channels 15, 15', shiftably supporting channelshaped horizontal slide rails 16, 16', respectively, which are shapedfor snug-fitting, slidable, nested disposition there- :14.

in substantially as shown in Figure 5. At their interior ends the sliderails 16, 16' are provided with vertical stop- I pins 17, 17respectively, which project a short distance above and below the sliderails 16, 16 for stop-forming abutment against the inwardly presentedends of the stationary channels '15, 15. The slide rails 16, 16' arefurthermore transversely connected to each other adjacent to their innerends by a relatively wide transversely extending plate 18, which iswelded or otherwise rig-idly secured at its transverse ends to the sliderails 16, 16.

At their inner ends the slide rails 16, 16' are transversely connectedby a U-shaped channel 19, which is welded or otherwise rigidly securedat its ends thereto and extends tranversely therebetween, being spacedinwardly from the forward ends of the slide rails 16, 16, by a distanceapproximately equal to the vertical height of the slide rails 16, 16',and having a web 20 which is inclined inwardly and upwardly, forpurposes presently more fully appearing. Also, rigidly mounted at itsends in, and extending horizontally between, the slide rails 16, 16, isa rod 21, the center line of which is midway between the upper and lowermargins of the slide rails 16, 16, and midway between the vertical endmargins of the slide rails 16, 16' and the forwardly presented inclinedface of the channel web 20. 7

Provided for shiftable and rocking disposition upon the rod 21 are twosimilarly shaped leg-rest supporting arms 22, 22', the upper ends ofwhich are tiiangularly enlarged to provide bracket-like supportingelements 23 rigidly V fastened to the back face 24 of the panel 10. Inthis connectiornit should be noted that the face 24 of the panel 10 isvertical and presented inwardly to the hollow interior of the baseextension 3, when the leg-rest 5 is in inoperative or concealedposition, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, and. conversely, the face 24 ispresented downwardly when the leg rest 5 is in operative orleg-supporting position as shown in Figure 2. V V

The arms 22, 22', are provided with lower or straight portions 25, 25,having opposite flanges 26, 27, transversely connected by a fiat web 23,the lower end of which is, in turn, provided with a longitudinallyextending The web 28 is furthermore cut awayat its lower extremity inthe provision of an arcuately contoured edge 36 which abuts against thelower portion of the panel web 20 just at the point of juncture with theflange 27. The flange 25 furthermore extends inwardly beyond the pointof juncture with the edge 3% in the provision of a stop-lip 31 whichengages the underface of the channel 19 when the leg-,

rest 5 is in inoperative or concealed position, as best seen in Figure7.

When it is desired to shift the leg-rest 5 from its concealed orinoperative position, as shown in Figures 1 and 10 is swung upwardlyabout the rod 21 and the stop-lips 31 will thus swing downwardly awayfrom the channel at the same time the edge is contoured so as to clearthe channel 19. As the leg-rest 5 approaches the position shown inFigure 2, the panel 10 will approach a position in which its rear edgeis in upwardly spaced alignment with the forwardly presented transversededge of the upholstered top member 8, and the lower or straight portions25, 25', of the leg-rest supporting arms 22, 22, will assume theposition shown in dotted lines in Figure 8. Thereupon, the leg-rest 5may be dropped down a short distance so that the lower ends 25, 25, ofthe legrest supporting arms 22, 22, will assume the position shown infull lines in Figure 8. In this position the upper margins of the slots29 rests upon the rod 21 and the rearwardly presented faces of theflanges 26 are snugly engaged against the forwardly presented inclinedface of the channel web 20. By reason of the vertical inclination of thechannel web 29 the leg-rest supporting arms 22, 22, will extend upwardlyand rearwardly at a slight angle to the vertical so that the panel 10will, at its rearward edge, be approximately flush with the upper faceof the upholstered top member 3 and will incline outwardly and upwardlytherefrom at a slight angle to the horizontal r so as to provide acomfortably supporting surface for the patients legs when the physiciandesires to have them in outwardly, extending or overhanging positionwith respect to the foot-end of the examining table A. A r 7 When it isdesired to return the leg-rest 5 to concealed or inoperative positionthe panel 10 is lifted upwardly and then swung outwardly and downwardlyso that the leg-rest supporting arms 22, 22', will resume the horizontalposition shown in Figure 7 and the entire sliding structure is pushedinwardly to the position shown in Figure8. lt will be noted in thisconnection that in concealed or inoper ativc position, the panel 10assumes a vertical position in line with the outwardly presentedvertical faces of the drawer 4 and presents a smooth attractive uniformap pearance. V

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of thephysicians examining table may be made and substituted for those hereinshown and described without departing from the nature and principle 7 ofmy invention. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is: a

1. In a physicians examining table comprising a horizontal top having ahead-end and a foot-end, a base mounted on the under side of the top insupporting relation thereto, said base being provided with a hollowspace 2. In a physicians examining table comprising a horizontal tophaving a head-end and a foot-end, a base mounted on the under side ofthe top in supporting relation thereto, said base being provided with ahollow space extending inwardly from said foot-end and an apertureopening from said space outwardly through the foot-end; a disappearingleg-rest comprising horizontally shiftable slide means operativelymounted within said space, a leg-rest member adapted to fit closurewiseacross said aperture, said leg-rest member having an inwardh extendingarm rockably and slidably connected at its inner end to the slide means,first stop means on the slide for optional engagement with the arm tohold the latter in horizontal position as a forward continuation of theslide, and second stop means also optionally engageable with said arm tohold the latter in substantially upright position with an edge of theleg-rest in abutment against the transverse edge of said foot-end.

3. In a physicians examining table comprising a horizontal top having ahead-end and a foot-end, a base mounted on the under side of the top insupporting relation thereto, said base being provided with a hollowspace extending inwardly from said footend and an aperture opening fromsaid space outwardly through the foot-end; a disappearing leg-restcomprising horizontally shiftable slide means operatively mounted withinsaid space, said slide means having a forward end presented toward andbeing adapted for extension through the aperture and being provided atsuch forward end with pivot forming projections and a laterallyextending cross element having a forwardly presented substantiallyupright flat face, a leg-rest member including a panel adapted foroptional disposition in inoperative position in which it is locatedclosurewise across said aperture and in an operative position in whichit is located in an approximately horizontal leg-rest forming positionas an extension of the foot-end of the tabletop, and leg-rest supportingarms rigidly aflixed to the side of said panel which is presenteddownwardly when the panel is in its substantially horizontal position,said arms extending downwardly from the panel and being slidably androckably connected at their lower ends to said pivot forming projectionsand having flat flanges for engagement against the inclined face at theforward end of the slide means whereby the leg supporting arms and panelare locked in vertical position, said flanges being of such length thatwhen the leg-rest supporting arms are shifted upwardly with respect tothe pivot forming projections the flanges become disengaged and theleg-rest member can then be swung outwardly and downwardly to a positionin which the leg-rest supporting arms are substantially horizontal sothat the leg-rest member and slide can be pushed inwardly as a unitbringing the panel into closure forming position across the aperture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS184,559 Travis Nov. 21, 1876 225,230 McCabe Mar. 9, 1880 321,078Birckhead June 30, 1885 590,268 Lee Sept. 21, 1897 939,827 Greilick Nov.9, 1909 1,262,216 Lee Apr. 9, 1918 1,517,960 Cuccia Dec. 2, 19241,649,053 Allison Nov. 15, 1927 2,306,031 Anderson et a1. Dec. 22, 1942

